A Bernal Bucks backer

Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

With some of the homes and businesses of Bernal Heights reflected in his window, Ken Shelf prepares plants for sale at his video and succulent store. An early backer of Bernal Bucks, Shelf said the "economic implosion of 2008" prompted him to spend more at local businesses and urge others to do the same. "Its kind of cool," he said, "knowing that you're keeping people's families going."

With some of the homes and businesses of Bernal Heights reflected in his window, Ken Shelf prepares plants for sale at his video and succulent store. An early backer of Bernal Bucks, Shelf said the "economic implosion of 2008" prompted him to spend more at local businesses and urge others to do the same. "Its kind of cool," he said, "knowing that you're keeping people's families going." (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

With some of the homes and businesses of Bernal Heights reflected in his window, Ken Shelf prepares plants for sale at his video and succulent store. An early backer of Bernal Bucks, Shelf said the "economic implosion of 2008" prompted him to spend more at local businesses and urge others to do the same. "Its kind of cool," he said, "knowing that you're keeping people's families going."